News from the Leader of the LGA Labour Group

Head of the LGA Labour Group office

The LGA are looking for a senior professional adviser to head up our Labour Group Office. You will work in a high-pressure environment, advising and supporting the Labour group leader, planning and overseeing the delivery of support to councillors and managing the office. More information and how to apply can be found here.

LGA Labour Annual Report 2017

Out on the campaign trail? Send us your best photos and they may appear in the Labour Group Annual Report. They need to be high resolution and you’ll need to tell us who is in the photo and give confirmation that everyone pictured is happy for us to use it. Please send them to anthie.zachariou@local.gov.uk.

News from Local Labour

Telford and Wrekin Council has launched Switch Telford, its own energy price comparison and switching website, in partnership with Ofgem accredited UK Power.

New CCTV cameras have been rolled out across Lambeth with the sole aim of catching and deterring fly-tippers.

Bradford Council has awarded funding to local communities to help them to put on events and activities to celebrate the Tour de Yorkshire coming to the district and Stage 3 starting in City Park.

Blackpool is gearing up for another busy season and the resort will once again host an outstanding programme of award-winning events.

Islington Council is protecting Council Tax Support payments for working families – a move that will prevent many families losing more than £150 a year.

Camden Council leader, Sarah Hayward, has announced that she is stepping down after five years as leader. And will also stand down as a councillor in King’s Cross at next year’s borough-wide elections.

More than five times as many asylum seekers live in the poorest third of the country as in the richest third, according to a Guardian analysis, which has prompted leading politicians to call for a complete overhaul of the dispersal system.

Housing, Local Government and Transport policy commission consultation

The Labour party has published eight consultation documents, including on Housing, Local Government and Transport and they want to hear from as many councillors as possible.

The consultation is open until Wednesday 31 May 2017. All the submission they receive will go to the appropriate policy commission who will consider your ideas before rewriting the documents ahead of a summer meeting of the National Policy Forum on the weekend of the 1 & 2 July 2017.

Survey seeking councillor views on their engagement in the development of local Sustainability and Transformation Plans

The LGA is committed to supporting councils to ensure that councillors are fully involved in the future development of STPs and is seeking feedback on their experience so far. Health and Wellbeing Board Chairs, Adult Social Care Portfolio holders and Council Leaders should have received an invite and link to complete this survey. If you are a local councillor and would like to share your experience, the survey can also be accessed here.

Please take a few minutes to complete this survey on councillor involvement in the development of your local STP, and the extent to which you feel STPs are addressing local health and wellbeing challenges for your council and communities. Your feedback will help provide an understanding of councillors’ experience and help the LGA to provide the right support to councils and councillors and ensure your views are reflected in the future development of STPs.

The survey will take around ten minutes to complete, and is open until Thursday 27th April 2017 at the latest, when this survey will close. If you have any questions or comments about this survey, please contact philippa.lynch@local.gov.uk.

Opposition Watch

Trafford Council bosses accused of 'penalising' disabled youngsters by hiking up school bus fees.